Sunday, 28 August 2011

Work

The last couple weeks have been difficult. It wasn't a surprise. I had it marked on the calendar: August 8-22 - prepare for suck.

Work related. We had a hard target date to get two prototypes done for our distributor meeting. New plastic components, new ROPS, new steering set up, and, just for kicks, a brand new engine we'd never used before. The trip out to Wisconsin was to fetch the plastic components and then it was rush, rush, rush to get everything to fit up.

And we got it done. It wasn't fun, not by a long shot, but we got both prototypes done in time. Neither drove particularly well but they were definitely pretty. Good enough to show off to our distributors.

At the last minute I was asked to go up to the distributor meeting. I wasn't sure if this was a reward for getting the prototypes done in time or punishment for, I don't know, being an engineer I guess. But I went. Up to the Viamede resort in the Kawarthas. Nice lake, okay accommodations, and a whole lotta sales people. If I had brought my kayak and fishing gear, it actually would have been an enjoyable couple days. But it was work, just work in a nicer location.

So I listened to people give their opinions on the prototypes and listened to the numerous presentations and listened to the small talk at dinner and I had my free beers and then I went to bed. I can never fully relax in a room full of sales people. I'm sure there were some decent drinkers in the group but the only thing to do besides drink was to talk about Argos and I had honestly had enough of the topic the last 3 weeks.

But most of the drama seems to be done now. Should be able to down shift into a regular running gear now and start doing the clean up part of the project. Good times.